The March 28, 1984 tornado

F4Lenoir, Greene and Pitt counties, North Carolina

An F4 tornado on a 28.0-mile path that killed 16 and injured 153. It was one of 29 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 12 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of March 28, 1984: 29 tornadoes in 4 states

F4 tornado · March 28, 1984

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 28.0 miles

Now in—

RatingF4

Path milestones

Damage pathDrawn at its recorded maximum width, 1,223 yards

TownsSized by population today; those within 3 miles flash as it passes

Counties on the pathLit as the tornado enters them

Source: Storm Prediction Center path, drawn through NOAA Storm Events county segments. Times as logged by the National Weather Service. Towns are today’s Census places.

The tornado

Rating: F4; Fujita scale
Path length: 28.0 mi; Width up to 1,223 yards
Killed: 16; Along the whole path
Injured: 153; Along the whole path
Date and time: Wednesday, March 28, 1984; 7:45 PM CST
That day: 29; tornadoes in the U.S.; every one, with a replay of the day

Counties on its path

Other notable tornadoes that day

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.